MXPA05004116A

MXPA05004116A - Rooftop water heater.

Info

Publication number: MXPA05004116A
Application number: MXPA05004116A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Kevin M Field
Original assignee: Aos Holding Co
Priority date: 2002-10-18
Filing date: 2003-06-12
Publication date: 2005-06-22
Also published as: US7277627B2; AU2003239992A1; CA2502422A1; WO2004038296A3; WO2004038296A2; US20030123863A1; AU2003239992A8

Abstract

A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building, a means for heating the water in the tank, a base member supporting the tank outside of the building, and a plurality of water pipes communicating with the water tank. The water heater also includes a manifold that is mounted to the base member and includes a plurality of pipe unions adapted to interface between the plumbing system and the plurality of pipes to provide cold water to the tank and to remove heated water from the tank for use in the building.

Description

WATER HEATER FOR ROOF CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS This application is based on a partial continuation of U.S. Application No. 10 / 274,183, filed October 18, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 09 / 732,472, filed December 7, 2000. The full contents of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to water heaters and, more particularly, to water heaters adapted to be mounted on the roof of a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide a water heater inside a building and the assembly of other equipment (e.g., HVAC equipment) on the roof of a building. One of the main concerns regarding roof equipment is the load imposed on the roof by the weight of the equipment. Most roof equipment is supported on the roof by the edge of the roof. The roof edge provides a tight seal between the equipment and the roof, while distributing the weight load of the equipment on the roof of the building. The roof edge also prevents water spillage into the interior of the building and equipment in case the roof is flooded. The edges of the roofs are usually made to fit the roof slope, so that the equipment is mounted on a flat surface. The roofing equipment is usually carried to the roof with a crane and fixed to the edge of the roof. A foam sealing tape is often used between the bottom of the equipment and the edge of the roof to provide a watertight seal. Many commercial constructions include a wall around the roof to hide the equipment from the roof of the view. Much of the HVAC equipment currently installed on roofs is covered by a rectangular cabin and has a profile low enough to not be visible from ground level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention identifies several advantages for providing a water heater on the roof of a building. In commercial applications, one factor that affects many aspects of some businesses, and particularly the restaurant and retail businesses, is the floor space. Moving a water heater outside a building and placing it on the roof of the building can free up more floor space to be used for conducting business. In addition to potentially freeing plant space and the need for a separate boiler room in a construction, the present invention provides other advantages compared to indoor water heaters. A ceiling water heater that constitutes an embodiment of the present invention can make design and maintenance simpler and more economical in some cases, compared to the design and maintenance of indoor water heaters. Several design parameters are imposed on the design of a ceiling water heater due to weather conditions and the expectations of potential buyers of such water heaters. The water heater must, in principle, face climatic conditions to which interior water heaters are not normally exposed. It would be desirable to mount the water heater on a watertight ceiling edge that held the water heater above the expected water levels in case of roof flooding. The roof edge would also provide the roof with the required weight load distribution. Since roof edges are already used to support other roofing equipment, it is convenient to use a roof edge to hold a roof water heater as well. To maintain the aesthetics of their buildings, buyers are likely to want equipment that would not normally be seen from ground level. Thus, the water heater must have a sufficiently low profile and be basically the same height as most of the HVAC equipment to meet the expected demands of the buyers. In light of the foregoing considerations, one embodiment of the present invention includes a water heater adapted to be placed outside of the construction and to connect with the construction plumbing system. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the building, a means to heat the water in the tank, a base member that holds the tank outside the building and multiple water pipes that communicate with the water tank. The water heater also includes a manifold that is mounted on the base member and includes several pipe joints adapted to connect between the plumbing system and the multiple pipes, to supply cold water to the tank and to draw the heated water from the tank to use it in construction. Another embodiment of the invention includes a water heater that has a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the building, a gas burner and a combustion tube inside the tank that communicates with the gas burner so that The flow of hot combustion products from the burner passes through the combustion tube to heat the water in the tank. The water heater also includes a cover that surrounds the tank and holds the tank out of the construction. A vent communicates with the combustion tube to remove the combustion products from the combustion tube and the cover. The vent includes a first and second duct within the cover and extends through a first and second sides, respectively, of the cover. A further embodiment of the invention includes a water heater assembly having a water heater, a cover surrounding the water heater and a manifold. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the building, a means to heat the water in the tank and multiple water pipes that communicate with the water tank. The manifold is mounted on the deck to connect between the plumbing system and the multiple pipes, to provide cold water to the tank inside the deck and to draw the heated water from the tank and the deck to be used in the construction. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the person skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water heater constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the water heater of Figure 1 from a different perspective. Figure 3 is a detailed view of the water heater cover of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the water heater tank assembly of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the water heater system. pipes associated with the tank assembly of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tank assembly of Figure 4 with selected elements removed for illustration purposes. Figure 8 is a detailed view of the tank assembly of Figures 4 and 7. Figure 9 is a rear view of the tank assembly of Figures 4 and 7. Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the tank assembly taken at along line 0-10 in Figure 9. Figure 1 1 is a view of the outlet tube taken along line 11-11 in Figure 10. Figure 2 is a rear view of an assembly of tank of an alternative construction.

Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in Figure 12. Figure 14 is a perspective view of a water heater in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 is a view of the water heater of Figure 14 from a different perspective. Figure 16 is a detailed view of the water heater cover of Figure 14. Figure 17 is a perspective view of the water heater tank assembly of Figure 14. Figure 18 is a schematic illustration of the water heater system. pipes associated with the tank assembly of Figure 17. Figure 19 is a perspective view of an electric water heater in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Before explaining in detail one embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of adopting other modalities and of being realized or practiced in different ways. In addition, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be considered as limiting. It is intended that the use of "includes (n)" and "comprise (n)" and variations thereof in the present, encompasses the items listed below and the equivalents thereof, as well as additional elements. It is intended that the use of "consist (n) of" and variations thereof herein exclusively include the elements listed below. The use of letters to identify elements of a method or procedures is simply for identification purposes and is not intended to indicate that the elements must be done in a particular order.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is carried out in a water heater that includes a cover 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and a tank assembly 14 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 13. A first construction of the tank assembly 14 is illustrated in the figures. 4 to 11. As regards in particular to FIGS. 9 and 10, the tank assembly 14 includes a tank 18 having a substantially cylindrical shape and a longitudinal axis extending horizontally 22. The tank 18 includes a frame 24 that is it is closed at one end by a head 26. A U-shaped combustion tube 30 is placed inside the tank 18. The U-shaped combustion tube 30 includes two members 31, 32 communicating through a curved portion. or bent 33. Members 31, 32 terminate at one burner end 34 and one exhaust end 38, respectively, both of which extend through head 26.

Turning to Figures 1 to 3, the cover 10 is on a roof edge 42 on a roof 46 of a construction and houses the tank assembly 14. The cover 10 generally has a rectangular shape, where its main axis generally extends horizontally . In this regard, the cover 0 generally has a low profile and is similar to other roof units as typical HVAC units (e.g., air conditioning). As used herein, "low profile" means that the cover 10 of the roof water heater generally can not be seen by a person of average height standing at ground level at a distance of about one urban block. . Therefore, the low profile allows the unit to be mounted on a roof without diminishing the aesthetics of the construction. Roof rails and a sloping container or small roof edge can be used as an alternative mounting structure to the roof edge 42 illustrated. As seen in Figure 3, the cover 10 includes two side panels 50, 54 generally arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to a third side panel or end panel 58. A second end panel or cover door 62 is joined at right angles to the two side panels 50, 54 and generally parallel to the end panel 58. The door 62 includes a space 66 and a recessed or raised handle 70 to facilitate the removal of the door 62 from the rest of cover 10 without the need to use tools. An upper panel or upper part 74 is releasably attached to the upper edges of the other panels 50, 54, 58, 62 of the cover 10. Preferably, the upper part 74 can be separated from the rest of the cover 10 without the need to use tools. Preferably, the door 62 and the upper part 74 interlock with the other panels 50, 54, 58 to resist interference with the tank assembly 14. A base member 78 supports the deck panels 50, 54, 58, 62, 74 and provides the lower part of the cover 10. The base member 78 is supported by the roof edge 42 and a foam tape or, preferably, another sealing member is provided between the roof edge 42 and the base member 78. to create a watertight seal between them. A pair of rails 82 is mounted on the bottom of the base member 78 and traverses the roof edge 42. The rails 82 define channels along their lengths into which the tips of a conventional forklift can be inserted to climb and lowering the water heater, as well as including the slots 86 for inserting the tips of the forklift transverse to the channels. The rails 82 also include the openings 90 for securing the hooks of a lift crane and facilitating the lifting of the water heater to the roof 46 of the construction. When the top and door 74, 62 are removed, the tank assembly 14 is sufficiently exposed to allow a service technician to service the water heater. The electrical disconnect button 94 (FIG. 1) allows the service technician to conveniently connect and disconnect the power to the water heater while the technician is in the ceiling 46. An electrical outlet 98 (FIG. 1) is also provided for adapt the electric lights and electric tools of the service technician. Another feature of the water heater is the provision of local and remote controllers 99, 100, respectively, which include thermostats. The local controller 99 may be mounted on the side panel 50, as illustrated, or may be mounted within the cover 10. The remote controller 100 is mounted in a desirable location within the construction. Each of the local and remote controllers 99, 100 includes a digital display of the temperature of the water within the tank 18 and allows adjustment of the temperature. Therefore, the water heater can be monitored and controlled both from the roof 46 and from inside the building. This arrangement is convenient both for the owner or occupant of the construction inside it and for the service technician who is in the roof 46. The roof panels 50, 54, 58, 62, 74 are joined together around the tank assembly 14 in an airtight manner. As used herein, "airtight" means that rain or other precipitation falling on the cover 10 from above can not basically be introduced into the cover 10 or interfere with the operation of the water heater. For example, one of the side panels 54 includes an air inlet vent 102 that opens downward to cause precipitation to move away from the cover 10, while the other side panel 50 includes an exhaust vent 106 that opens down. In addition to their airtightness, the edges of the cover panels 50, 54, 58, 62, 74 are preferably joined together substantially in a water-tight manner (eg, by welding or with packing material) to resist or prevent water from entering the cover 10 and interfering with the operation of the water heater. For example, panels 50, 54, 58, 62 can be joined together using a connection tab and slotted connections, so that one edge of a panel 50, 54, 58, 62 can slide into a slot formed in the edge of an adjacent panel 50, 54, 58, 62. Turning now to Figure 4, the tank assembly 14 will be discussed in more detail. A fan or combustion fan 1 0 communicates with the air inlet vent 102 through an inlet duct 112 to draw air from the outside of the cover 10 to a gas fuel burner 114 located at the burner end 34 of the combustion tube 30. The gas fuel is also brought to the burner 1 14 through a gas pipe 118 and a regulator 122. The burner 114 causes the combustion of the gas fuel and the air and the products of the combustion they are forced to pass through the combustion tube 30 by means of the combustion fan 110. The products of the combustion heat the water in the tank 18 through the wall of the combustion tube 30 and subsequently leave the exhaust end 38 of the tube of combustion 30. The exhaust vent 106 communicates with the exhaust end 38 of the combustion tube 30 through an exhaust duct 123, to allow the combustion products consumed s are released into the surrounding atmosphere. Additionally with respect to Figure 8, a baffle or turbulence apparatus 124 is placed within one of the ends 31, 32 of the U-shaped combustion tube 30 and, preferably, at the upper end 32. Each of the ends 31, 32 includes a longitudinal axis 125 (FIG. 10) and the longitudinal axes 125 jointly define a combustion plane (FP) (FIG. 9) which can be arranged basically vertically or can be inclined with respect to to the vertical at an angle marked as a. Preferably, the angle a is between 30 and 60 ° with respect to the vertical. With respect to Figures 8 to 11, an inlet tube 126 and an outlet tube 130 are also mounted on the head 26 and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 22 of the tank 18. The inlet tube 126 is located at the lower portion of the tank 18 below the longitudinal axis 22, while the outlet pipe 130 is located in the upper portion of the tank 18 above the longitudinal axis 22. Preferably, the inlet pipe 126, the outlet pipe 130 and the longitudinal axis 22 of the tank 18 are aligned parallel to each other in a vertical plane. This arrangement is made possible in part because the angle of the combustion plane is greater than zero (ie, the combustion plane FP is not vertical), which displaces the ends 31, 32 of the combustion tube 30 from a position in the which would interfere with the extension of the inlet and outlet tubes 126, 130. The tubes 126, 130 are substantially identical to each other and preferably have a length 132 (FIG. 11) slightly less than or substantially equal to the inside length 134. of tank 18, so that cold water is supplied and hot water is drawn out along the entire interior length 134 of the tank 18. The preferred length 132 is between 37 and 38 inches, but the length 132 will vary depending on the dimensions of the water tank 8. A threaded end 138 is attached at one end of the tubes 126, 130. The threaded end 138 is threaded into a threaded connection 142 in the tank head 26 and includes additional threads to receive a splice, water line or other plumbing fixture. In a less preferred embodiment, one or both of the tubes 126, 130 can be considerably shorter than those illustrated, or the outlet tube 130 can be removed, leaving only the conventional connection 142 with which the hot water pipe is communicated. of the construction. The end 146 opposite the threaded end 138 is closed. The tubes 126, 130 include multiple orifices, openings or recesses 150 along their lengths. Preferably, the tubes 126, 130 have an outer diameter of about one inch, where the holes 150 have a diameter of about 0.25 inches. Preferably, the spacing between orifices 154 is approximately five inches, wherein the last orifice is spaced from the closed end 146 a distance 158 of about 0.5 inches.

In the illustrated construction, all of the recesses 150 in the inlet tube 126 face downwards, while all of the recesses 150 in the outlet tube 130 face upwards. Therefore, the inlet pipe 126 directs cold water towards the lower part of the tank 18 and the outlet pipe 130 draws hot water from the upper part of the tank 8. This is advantageous since the hottest water possible is taken out of the tank. upper part by the outlet pipe 130, while the inlet pipe 126 introduces cold water directly into the lower part of the tank 18. Therefore, the inlet pipe 126 evenly distributes water in the lower part of the tank to minimize mixing, thereby maximizing the heated water drawn from the tank 18. In less preferred alternative constructions, the holes 150 may be arranged around the periphery of the tubes 126, 30 instead of opening in a single direction. As can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the base member 78 includes a water pipe opening 162 surrounded by a vertical wall 166. Four water pipes 168a, 168b, 168c, 68d (collectively referred to as 168) extend toward up from the construction, through the roof edge 42, as well as through the opening 162, and communicates with the water tank 8. A pipe-cutter 170 includes the openings 174 of water-tight sliding fit around the pipes of water 168 and has a dependent wall 178 (FIG. 6) of sealing fit against water on the vertical wall 166. Therefore, the tube-holder 170 provides a watertight seal between the pipes 168 and the base member 78. It can be used clamps 182 suitable for further tightening the tube 170 through the vertical wall 166 and the pipes 168. Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the pipe system associated with the tank assembly 14. One of the tubes water 168a provides cold water to the water inlet pipe 126. Another water pipe 168b draws hot water from the tank 18 through the outlet pipe 130 and this hot water is used for the dishwashers and other household appliances that require very hot water (eg, between approximately 48.8 ° C and approximately 65.5 ° C or higher temperature if necessary). Another water pipe 168c communicates with a mixing valve 186 and supplies a mixture of hot water and cold water to the hot water tap of the bathrooms and the kitchen sink. The last water pipe 168d is communicated between the hot water pipes of the construction and a circulation pump 190. The circulation pump 190 performs two functions. First, the circulation pump 190 is turned on by the controller 99 (Figure 1) each time the combustion fan 110 is turned on, and remains active for a specified period of time (eg, approximately nine minutes) after the ventilator 110 combustion goes off. A bypass valve 191 is operated to route water from the outlet pipe 130, through the circulation pump 190, and back to the tank 18 through the intake pipe 126. In this way, the circulation pump 190 makes The hot water is drawn from the upper part of the water tank 18 through the outlet pipe 130 and is recirculated through the cold water inlet pipe 26 to level the water temperature in the tank 18 and reduce the effects of the accumulation. The second function of the circulation pump 190 is to maintain a supply of hot water in the construction pipes. A thermostat 192 (FIG. 5) may be employed to determine when the temperature in the hot water pipes of the construction has dropped below a desired temperature (e.g., when hot water has not been drawn for a prolonged period of time). In this case, the bypass valve 191 is rotated to allow the circulation pump 190 to circulate the water in the hot water pipes of the construction to the inlet pipe 126, which forces the hot water to flow out of the outlet pipe 130 and into the pipe 168b. The hot water replenishes water from the hot water pipes of the construction. The piping system also includes check valves (CV) and an adjustable gate valve (GV) (which can be replaced with a fixed valve). The gate valve GV can be used to control the flow rate of the recirculated water in and out of the water tank 18. Referring again to FIG. 3, the base member 78 also includes a drain recess 194 that receives a drain member. drained 198. The drainage member 198 communicates with a drain pipe 202 (shown intermittently in Figures 1, 2 and 4) in the construction, while the drain pipe 202 communicates with the drainage system of the drainage pipe 202. building. The drainage gap 194 is the only gap in the base member 78 through which water is allowed to flow in the event of a water leakage within the cover 10. Therefore, any water flowing freely within of the cover 10 is drained through the drainage hole 194 and directed to the drainage of the construction. The tank assembly 14 also includes a drain valve 204 (FIG. 5) that allows the tank 18 to drain. Preferably, the valve 204 is located over the drain drain 194. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, the water heater also includes a temperature and pressure valve 206, which is opened in case the temperature of the water is too high. Water in tank 18 rises too high or if unacceptable pressure levels are present inside tank 18. A hose or pipe 210 extends downward from pressure and temperature valve 206 and terminates above drainage hole 194. Water is drained from the top of the tank 18 and fed to the drainage system of the construction in the event of a state of excess temperature or excess pressure in the tank 18. Referring again to figures 7 and 8, the assembly of water tank 14 also includes a pair of support rails 214 extending transverse to longitudinal axis 22 of tank 18, as well as a pair of wedge-shaped supports 218 welded or fixed from another Each of the support rails 214. The tank mounting brackets 222 are attached (eg, welded) to the tank 18 and a thermally insulated separator 226 is interposed between the tank mounting brackets 222 and the brackets in the tank. wedge shape 218. Suitable fasteners attach supports 2 8 to supports 222. Tank 8 is surrounded with insulation 230 to reduce heat loss from tank 18 in ambient air. The head 26 includes an access hole 234 for cleaning the tank 18 and for applying a glass coating to the interior of the tank 18 during its manufacture. An access cover 238 is mounted on the recess 234 and a gasket 242 is employed to prevent water leakage through the access recess 234. A thermostat and / or an anode tube are mounted on the connections 246 on the cover access 238. An alternative construction of the tank assembly 14 is illustrated in figures 12 and 13. Here, the combustion plane FP is basically vertical and alternative inlet and outlet pipes 254, 258, respectively, are located below and by up, respectively, of the combustion tube 30. A 90 ° elbow 262 is provided in both the inlet and outlet tubes 254, 258, so that the tubes communicate with the construction pipes through the shell, cylindrical 24 of the tank 18 and through the insulation 230, instead of through the head 26. A water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in figures 14 to 18. The reference numbers used with the The embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 are also used in Figures 14 to 18 to indicate similar components. As shown in figure 16, the water heater includes the local and remote controllers 99, 100 respectively. The local controller 99 may be mounted adjacent to the tank 18 within the cover 10, while the remote controller 100 may be mounted at a convenient location within the construction. The local controller 99 and the remote controller 100 are electrically connected through a cable 101 that extends through an opening 103 in the base member 78. The cable 101 is sealed against water within the opening 103 to prevent all water within the cover 10 escapes through the opening 103. Each of the local and remote controllers 99, 100 includes a digital display of the temperature of the water within the tank 18 and allows adjustment of the temperature. Therefore, the water heater can be monitored and controlled both from the roof and from inside the building. This arrangement is convenient both for the owner of the construction or occupant within the construction and for the service technician who is in the roof. The cover panels 50, 54, 58, 62, 74 are joined together around the tank assembly 14 in a water-tight manner. As indicated above, "water tight" means that rain or other precipitation falling on the cover 10 from above is basically prevented from entering the cover 10 and interfering with the operation of the water heater. For example, one of the side panels 50 includes an inlet vent 102 that opens downward to cause precipitation to run out of the cover 10, while one of the side panels 50 includes an exhaust vent opening to the outside. side 278. In addition to being airtight, the edges of the cover panels 50, 54, 58, 62, 74 are joined together, preferably in a substantially watertight manner against water (eg, by welding or packing material) resist or prevent water from entering the cover and interfering with the operation of the water heater. Turning now to FIG. 17, in this embodiment, a T-shaped exhaust duct 280 is connected to the exhaust end 38 of the combustion tube. The T-shaped exhaust duct 280 includes a first end 282 for supplying the combustion products used in one direction through one of the side panels 50 and a second end 284 that supplies the combustion products used in the opposite direction to through the other side panel 54. The ends 282, 284 of the T-shaped duct 280 are connected to each other with a sliding fit connection that includes a sealing member to resist the escape of the combustion products through the adjusting connection. Sliding The ends 282, 284 of the T-shaped duct 280 can be connected to the exhaust vents 278 to supply the combustion products outside both side panels 50, 54 of the cover 10 to the surrounding atmosphere. Otherwise, one of the ends 282, 284 of the T-shaped exhaust duct 280 can be connected to an obstruction plate 286 to prevent the combustion products from leaving that side of the cover 10, thus forcing all the combustion products exit from the opposite side of the cover 10 through the opposite end 284, 282 of the T-shaped duct 280. The clogging plate 286 may be used when it is preferable to direct the exhaust gases to one side of the cover 10, for example when one side of the cover 10 is open to the atmosphere and the other side of the cover 0 is obstructed. In addition, a lifter 288 (shown with broken lines in Figure 16) can be connected to the ends 282, 284 of the T-shaped exhaust duct 280 to lift the exhaust above the top of the cover 10. As can be seen in figures 16 and 17, the base member 78 includes a rectangular opening 290. A manifold 292 is sealedly connected to the base member 78 to cover the opening 290. The manifold 292 includes an adapter plate 294 and a gasket 296 interposed between the adapter plate 294 and base member 78 to create a seal substantially watertight. The manifold 292 also includes five pipe joints 298, each of which includes a first joint end 300 within the cover 10 on one side of the adapter plate 294 and a second joint end 302 outside the cover 10 on the opposite side of the adapter plate 294. In one embodiment, each of the joining ends 300, 302 includes a threaded coupling. Five water pipes 304a, 304b, 304c, 304d, 304e (collectively referred to as pipeline system 304) are connected between tank 18 and first ends 300a, 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e of pipe joints 298. Five pipes of water 168a, 168b, 168c, 168d, 168e (collectively referred to as building plumbing system 168) extend upward of the construction and through the roof edge 42 to connect the second joining ends 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d , 302e of the pipe junctions 298. The adapter plate 294 is rigidly mounted on the base member 78 and provides structural stability to the manifold 292. The rigid connection allows each of the water pipes 168, 304 to be connected and disconnected from each other. its respective end 300, 302 of the pipe junction 298, regardless of whether a pipe 168, 304 is or is not connected or disconnected to the opposite end 300, 302 of that specific pipe junction 298. To independently connect and disconnect the water pipe 168, 304 from its respective pipe union 298 simplifies the water heater service, allowing easy removal and repositioning of the water pipes 168, 304. Figure 18 illustrates the water system. pipe 304 associated with the tank assembly 14. The pipeline system 304 includes a purge vent 305 at the high point of the pipeline system 304. The purge vent 305 allows air to be purged from the pipeline system 304 during the start. A cold water supply pipe 168a is connected to one end 302a of a first pipe joint 298a, while a cold water inlet pipe 304a is connected between the other end 300a of the first pipe union 298a and the inlet pipe 126. In this manner, the cold water inlet pipe 304a provides cold water to the water inlet pipe 126. A hot water pipe 168b of the plumbing system is connected to an end 302b of a second pipe joint 298b, while a hot water outlet pipe 304b is connected between the other end 300b of the second pipe union 298b and the outlet pipe 130, so that the hot water outlet pipe 304b draws hot water from the tank 8 through outlet pipe 130. This hot water is used for dishwashers and other household appliances that require very hot water (eg, between approximately 48.8 ° C and approx. a 65.5 ° C or higher temperature if necessary). A mixed water pipe 168c of the plumbing system is connected to an end 302c of a third pipe joint 298c, while a mixed water outlet pipe 304c is connected between the other end 300c of the third pipe union 298c and a mixing valve 186, so that the mixed water outlet pipe 304c supplies a mixture of hot water and cold water through the mixed water pipe 168c to the hot water faucets of the bathrooms and the kitchen counters of the building. A first circulation pump 306 causes the hot water to be drawn from the upper part of the water tank 18 through the outlet pipe 130 and the hot water outlet pipe 304b and to be recirculated through the inlet pipe. of cold water 126 to level the water temperature in tank 18 and reduce the effects of accumulation. The first circulation pump 306 is turned on by the controller 99, 100 each time the combustion fan 110 is turned on, and remains active for a specified period of time (eg, approximately nine minutes) after the combustion fan 10. turns off. The first circulation pump 306 routes water from the outlet tube 130, through the first circulation pump 306, and back to the tank 18 through the inlet pipe 126. The pipe system 304 also includes a flow control valve (FC) that can used to control the flow rate of the water recirculated by the first circulation pump 306 in and out of the water tank 18. The FC flow control valve retains a minimal amount of accumulation effects within the tank 18 to keep the water more warm near the top of tank 18 to draw hot water. Having a special pump 306 inside the cover 10 allows the recirculation of the tank 18 without recirculating the water throughout the plumbing system 168 of the construction. Since the first circulation pump 306 does not utilize the construction plumbing system 168 to recirculate the water within the tank 18, the operation of the first circulation pump 306 is not affected by the opening and closing of a valve. recirculation in the construction plumbing system 68 during the service of the plumbing system of construction 168.

A hot water return pipe 168d communicates between the hot water pipes of construction 168b and one end 302d of a fourth pipe union 298d. A hot water return pipe 304d of the pipe system is connected between the other end 300d of the fourth pipe union 298d and a second circulation pump 308. The second circulation pump 308 maintains a supply of hot water in the pipes of the pipeline. construction hot water 68b. A thermostat or temperature sensor 192d may be employed to determine when the temperature in the hot water pipes of construction 168b has dropped below a desired temperature (ie, when hot water has not been drawn out for a prolonged period of time) . In this case, the second circulation pump 308 is activated to circulate the water in the hot water pipes of the construction 168b, to the hot water return pipe 304d of the pipe system 304 and to the inlet pipe 126, which forces the hot water to leave the outlet pipe 130, towards the hot water outlet pipe 304b and towards the hot water pipes of the construction 168b. Hot water replenishes water in the hot water pipes of construction 168b. The flow control valve FC can be used to control the flow rate of the water recirculated by the second circulation pump 308 in and out of the water tank 18. In one embodiment, the FC flow control valve allows the water to flow at approximately 15.14 liters per minute.

A mixed water return pipe 168e is communicated between the mixed water pipes of construction 168c and one end 302e of a fifth pipe union 298e. A mixed water return pipe 304e of the pipe system 304 is connected between the other end 300e of the fifth pipe union 298e and a third circulation pump 310. The third circulation pump 310 maintains a mixed water supply in the pipes of mixed water 169c construction. A thermostat or temperature sensor 192e may be employed to determine when the temperature in the mixed water pipes of the construction 168c has dropped below a desired temperature (i.e., when mixed water has not been removed for a prolonged period of time) . In this case, the third circulation pump 310 is activated to circulate the water in the mixed water pipes of the construction 168c partially towards the mixing valve 186 and partially towards the inlet pipe 126, which forces an equal amount of hot water leave the outlet pipe 130 to the mixing valve 186. From the mixing valve 186, the returned hot and mixed hot water is distributed to the mixed water pipes 168c to replenish the water in the mixed water pipes of the construction 168c. Each of the circulation pumps 306, 308, 310 includes a one-way check valve 312 which ensures unidirectional flow when each of the circulation pumps 306, 308, 310 is activated. Since they are located at pumps 306, 308, 310, there is no need for external check valves. Preferably, the cover 10 and the pipe system 304 within the cover 10 are mounted outside of a construction and, as such, are exposed to the temperature of the outside atmosphere. In environments where the temperature reaches below the freezing point, the water within the pipe system 304 could potentially freeze and break the pipes of the 304 pipe system. In order to minimize the risk of water freezing within the system pipe 304, each of the circulation pumps 306, 308, 310 can be activated to replace the water near freezing with hotter water. Additional thermostats 192, such as thermostat 192a, can be used to measure when the water temperature in the piping system 304 has dropped below a safe temperature. In this case, one or all of the pumps 306, 308, 310 can be activated by means of the controller 99, 100 to increase the temperature of the water inside the pipe system 304. The invention provides a self-contained water heating system assembled from convenient form within a cover 10, allowing the water heater to be easily assembled with the plumbing system 68 of a construction. Specifically, there is no need to have any external pump, sensor or valve to the cover 10, as the water heater includes all of these components already assembled to operate within the cover 10. In addition, the water heater controls 99, 100 they are pre-connected, allowing the water heater to be completely ready to operate as soon as the construction plumbing system 168 has been connected to the manifold 292 and the gas supply is connected to the burner. Another advantage is that the water heater includes modular parts (eg, tank, burner, manifold, pumps, piping system) that allow for removal and repositioning without the need to disconnect the plumbing system of construction 168 of the manifold 292. A The electric water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 19. Reference numbers used with respect to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 18 are also employed in Figure 19 to indicate similar components. The electric water heater is basically similar to the water heater illustrated in Figures 14 to 18, except that the electric water heater is electrically heated. Since the electric water heater is electrically heated, the electric water heater does not include a fuel gas burner 1 4 or other components associated with the burner 114, such as a fan 10, an air inlet vent 102, a duct air inlet 112, a combustion tube 30, an exhaust duct 280 and exhaust vents 278. Instead, the electric water heater includes an electric heating control 314 electrically connected to four electric heaters 316. Alternatively, less than four heaters 316 may be used and unused sockets may be connected. Each of the electric heaters 316 includes multiple U-shaped heating elements 318. The electric heaters are located near the bottom of the tank 18 and basically have the same spacing from each other.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - A water heater adapted to be located outside a building and to connect with the plumbing system of the construction, wherein said water heater comprises: a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction; means for heating the water in said tank; a base member holding said tank out of the construction; multiple water pipes that communicate with said water tank; a manifold mounted on said base member and including several pipe joints adapted to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes, to supply cold water to said tank and draw hot water from said tank to be used in the construction; a cover supported by said base and sealingly encloses said water tank, the heating medium and the multiple pipes. 2 - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said manifold is fixed rigidly to said base member to resist the movement of said water pipes with respect to said manifold. 3 - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said manifold connections are fixed rigidly with respect to said base and wherein said construction plumbing system can be connected and disconnected from said unions independently of if said multiple pipes are connected to said unions. 4. The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising a package interposed between said manifold and said base member to create a seal substantially watertight against water between them. 5. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said connections extend through said base, so that said multiple pipes are connected with said unions on one side of said base and the plumbing system Connect with these unions on the other side of said base. 6. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said heating means includes at least one electrical element that converts the electricity into heat energy to heat the water inside said tank. 7. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said heating means includes a gas fuel burner that creates hot combustion products and a combustion tube inside said tank for the flow of the products of combustion. 8. - A water heater adapted to be located outside a building and to connect with the plumbing system of the construction, wherein said water heater comprises: a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction; means for heating the water in said tank; a base member holding said tank out of the construction; multiple water pipes that communicate with said water tank; and a multiple mounted on said base member and including several pipe joints adapted to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes, to supply cold water to said tank and draw hot water from said tank to be used in the construction; wherein said base member includes a roof edge adapted to be mounted on a roof of the construction around a hole in the roof, so that the water heater and the plumbing system are connected through the hole. 9. A water heater adapted to be located outside of a building and to connect with the plumbing system of the construction, wherein said water heater comprises: a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction; means for heating the water in said tank; a base member holding said tank out of the construction; multiple water pipes that communicate with said water tank; and a multiple mounted on said base member and including several pipe joints adapted to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes, to supply cold water to said tank and draw hot water from said tank to be used in the construction; wherein said base member includes a concrete base mounted on the ground outside the construction. 10. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said base member rises above a predicted flood level of the area surrounding said water heater, so that said water tank is sustained by said base member above the flood level. 11. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a purge respirator at the highest point of at least one of said multiple pipes, to facilitate purging of said at least one pipeline air . 12. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said tank includes a rounded surface, said water heater further comprises a mounting bracket attached to said rounded surface, as well as a wedge-shaped support held by said base member and interconnected with said mounting bracket for holding said tank above said base member. 13.- The water heater in accordance with the claim 12, further characterized in that it comprises a thermally insulated separator between said mounting support and said wedge-shaped support. 14. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an outlet connection and an input connection mounted on said tank and communicating between the interior of said tank and those selected among said multiple pipes. 15. A water heater adapted to be located outside of a building and to connect to the construction plumbing system, wherein said water heater comprises: a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction; means for heating the water in said tank; a base member holding said tank out of the construction; multiple water pipes that communicate with said water tank; a multiple mounted on said base member and including several pipe joints adapted to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes, to supply cold water to said tank and draw hot water from said tank to be used in the construction; an outlet connection and an inlet connection mounted on said tank and communicating between the interior of said tank and those selected from among the multiple pipes; and at least one recirculation pump for simultaneously moving water in selected pipes of the plumbing system to said tank through at least one of said manifold junctions, at least one of said multiple pipes and said inlet connection. and to replace water displaced in this way with water from said tank through said outlet connection, at least one of said multiple pipes and at least one of said multiple connections. 16. - The water heater according to claim 15, further characterized in that said recirculation pump includes an integral check valve that allows the flow of water to occur in a single direction through said pump. 17. - The water heater according to claim 15, further characterized in that said at least one recirculation pump includes a hot water recirculation pump and a separate mixed water recirculation pump for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system. 18. - The water heater according to claim 15, further characterized by comprising a flow control valve that communicates between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes to limit the flow of water displaced to said tank. 19. The water heater according to claim 18, further characterized in that said selected flow rate is approximately 15.14 liters per minute. 20.- The water heater in accordance with the claim 14, further characterized in that said multiple pipes include a cold water inlet pipe that communicates through one of said manifold junctions between the cold water supply of the plumbing system and said inlet connection, wherein an outlet pipeline of hot water is communicated through one of said manifold junctions between said outlet connection and the hot water supply pipes of the plumbing system, where a hot water return pipe communicates through one of said unions of manifold between said inlet connection and the hot water pipes of the plumbing system, wherein a mixing valve communicates between said hot water outlet pipe and said cold water inlet pipe, wherein a water outlet pipe Mixed is communicated through one of said manifold junctions between said mixing valve and the mixed water pipes of the manifold system. As well as where the mixed water return pipe is communicated through one of said manifold junctions between said inlet connection and the mixed water pipes of the plumbing system. 21. - The water heater according to claim 20, further characterized in that said mixing valve includes an integral check valve which allows the flow of water to be produced in a single direction through said mixing valve. 22. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said cover includes front and rear panels and a first and second side panels extending between said front and rear panels, wherein said front and rear panels are basically identical to each other and said side panels are basically identical to each other. 23. - The water heater according to claim 22, further characterized in that said front, rear and side panels are interconnected without using fasteners. 24. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said base member includes a means of draining through it to drain water from the inside of said cover and said draining means provides the only way for the Water leaves said multiple pipes to escape through said base member. 25 - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a mixing valve, wherein said mixing valve allows the supply of mixed hot and cold water to the plumbing system through one of said manifold connections, in wherein said mixing valve is disposed within said cover. 26. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said joints extend through said base, so that said multiple pipes are interconnected with said joints within said cover and the plumbing system is interconnected with said joints outside said cover. 27. - The water heater according to claim 1, further characterized in that said heating means includes a gas burner and a combustion tube inside said tank that communicates with said gas burner to allow the flow of products from the gas. combustion of hot from said burner through said combustion tube to heat the water in said tank, wherein said water heater further comprises a vent communicating with said combustion tube for the removal of the combustion products of said tube of combustion and outside said cover, wherein said vent includes a first and second duct within said cover and which extend through a first and second side, respectively, of said cover. 28. - The water heater according to claim 27, further characterized in that said vent is basically T-shaped. 29. The water heater according to claim 27, further characterized in that said first and second ducts are interconnected with a sliding fit connection, including a sealing member to resist escape of the combustion products through the sliding fit connection. 30. - The water heater according to claim 27, further characterized in that it comprises an obstruction member that resists the flow of the combustion products out of one of said ducts, as well as an exhaust outlet mounted at the end of another duct to hermetically evacuate the products of the combustion outside said cover. 31. - The water heater according to claim 30, further characterized in that said exhaust outlet includes a vertical riser that extends upwards outside said cover to elevate the combustion products with respect to said water heater prior to the evacuation of said combustion products to the atmosphere surrounding said water heater. 32.- The water heater in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises at least one recirculation pump for simultaneously moving the water in the pipes of the plumbing system to said tank, through at least one of said multiple connections and at least one of said multiple pipes and replace the water displaced in this way with water from said tank through at least one of said multiple pipes and at least one of said manifold junctions, wherein at least one of said recirculation pumps is arranged inside said cover. 33 - The water heater according to claim 32, further characterized in that said at least one recirculation pump includes a hot water recirculation pump and a separate mixed water recirculation pump for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system, and wherein both of said hot water and mixed water recirculation pumps are disposed within said cover. 34.- A water heater adapted to be located outside of a construction and to connect with the plumbing system of the construction, wherein said water heater comprises: a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction; a gas burner; a combustion tube within said tank communicating with said gas burner to allow the flow of hot combustion products from said burner through said combustion tube to heat the water in said tank; a cover that surrounds said tank and holds said tank out of the construction; and a vent communicating with said combustion tube for the removal of the combustion products from said combustion tube and outside said combustion tube, wherein said vent includes a first and second conduit within said combustion chamber and which extend through said combustion tube. of a first and second side, respectively, of said cover; wherein said first and second ducts are interconnected with a sliding fit connection, including a sealing member to resist the escape of the combustion products through said sliding fit connection. 35.- The water heater in accordance with the claim 34, further characterized in that said vent is basically T-shaped. 36. The water heater according to claim 34, further characterized in that it comprises an obstruction member that resists the flow of the combustion products out of one of said ducts. , as well as an exhaust outlet mounted at the end of the other duct to hermetically evacuate the combustion products out of said cover. 37. - The water heater according to claim 36, further characterized in that said exhaust outlet includes a vertical riser extending upwardly of said cover to elevate the combustion products with respect to said water heater prior to the evacuation of said water heater. said combustion products to the atmosphere surrounding said water heater. 38. - A water heater assembly adapted to be located outside of a building and to connect with the construction plumbing system, wherein said water heater assembly comprises: a water heater that includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction, a means of heating the water in said tank and multiple water pipes communicating with said water tank; a cover that surrounds the water heater; and a multiple mounted on said cover to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes to supply cold water to said tank inside the cover and draw heated water from said tank and said cover to be used in the construction; wherein said cover includes a base member raised above a predicted flood level of the area surrounding said water heater, such that said water tank is supported by said base member above the flood level. 39. - A water heater assembly adapted to be located outside of a building and to connect with the construction plumbing system, wherein said water heater assembly comprises: a water heater that includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside the construction, a means of heating the water in said tank and multiple water pipes communicating with said water tank; a cover that surrounds the water heater; and a multiple mounted on said cover to connect between the plumbing system and said multiple pipes to supply cold water to said tank inside the cover and draw heated water from said tank and said cover to be used in the construction; wherein said cover includes a base supporting said water heater, wherein said cover encloses said water heater in a sealed manner and wherein said cover includes front and rear panels and a second side panel extending between said front panels and rear, wherein said front and rear panels are basically identical to each other and said side panels are basically identical to each other. 40.- The water heater assembly according to claim 39, further characterized in that said front, rear and side panels interconnect with each other without the use of fasteners.